On the first night of the lockdown, it rained. Proper Irish rain! It doesn’t rain often in Madrid, especially not downpours like this one. It was lashing. Kate came running into the kitchen, pulling on her wellies. “Come on, mum! It’s raining, let’s go!”
Normally when it rains here, as the Spaniards run in, we run out! We splash and jump in the puddles, get wet, twirl in the rain, and go on “wet adventures,” as we call them. But the government had told us to stay inside.
How could I say no to my little Ethiopian beauty? So we did. We ran outside into the empty courtyard and, for five precious minutes, we danced, splashed, and sang in the rain all by ourselves. When windows started opening to see what was going on, we ran back inside as quickly as we had run out.
Marie Donnelly and her daughter, Kate.
I am having so much fun with my No. 1 child: my sweet, loving, charming, cheeky girl. These days, it’s just Kate and me. We have no family here (I'm a teacher), but we have good friends who are checking in on us regularly, by phone, of course.
l love this little girl so much. I will not get sick. I will stay well and healthy for her. Just in case, I have a back-up plan. If I do get sick, my friends and their two kids will take care of Kate until my sister arrives to take her home or back to Ireland.
Kate knows there is a virus that’s dangerous, but she’s not worried because she’s with her mama. She told me the other night, “We’ll be just fine, Mama, as long as we stick together.” (Market Watch)